Being an offensive coordinator under Mark Stoops was never a stress-free job, something we don't have to worry about with Will Stein. The philosophy was often conservative, the leash was short, and the fan expectations were high. In fact, no one lasted longer in that role than Eddie Gran (5 years) and the man of the hour, Neal Brown (2 years). Brown has always been a Kentucky kid through and through. He attended Boyle County High School in Danville, Kentucky, where he was an all-state wide receiver before playing at UK under the legendary Hal Mumme.
His coaching journey has been a winding road. He went from UMASS to Texas Tech, and eventually back to Lexington for a true homecoming as OC in 2013-2014. He parlayed that success into a head coaching gig at Troy, where he won big, and later the West Virginia job. After a stint as an analyst at Texas where he rehabilitated his image under Steve Sarkisian, he is officially back in charge of a program.
Neal Brown is another Kentucky boy doing big things
It was announced that Neal Brown will be the next head coach at the University of North Texas, replacing Eric Morris who left for the Oklahoma State job. Brown signed a 5-year deal and wasted no time expressing his excitement about the fit.
'I am incredibly excited about the opportunity to partner with Jared in leading North Texas Football!' Brown said. 'Several key criteria drove my analysis of opportunities this cycle – alignment, relationships, resources, opportunity, and community. Jared and his team presented a clear vision of why North Texas and Denton check all those boxes and then some.'
He continued, emphasizing the culture he wants to build: 'Football in Texas is special and my family and I can't wait to pour everything we have into the North Texas campus and Denton. Most importantly, our program will always be a player-driven program.'
It is always good to see a former Wildcat landing on his feet. While his time in Lexington was short, he provided some of the most fun offensive years of the early Stoops era, fans still remember those offenses fondly compared to the slog we watched recently. We wish him nothing but the best as he tries to turn the Mean Green into a powerhouse. You love to see it.